Warning

Almost ready to open

Imanuela Akatemia Christian School junior students, who will have priority time in their new playground once it is offi cially opened next month. 18092816

The children at Imanuela Akatemia Christian School in Ngatangiia are exercising great amounts of self-control, as they wait for their brand new playground to be finished and made safe.

The playground, which came from a $66,000 grant from the Indian government, along with nearly $10,000 from local donations, is waiting for a retaining wall and a sandy base.

Imanuela Akatemia principal Rebecca Aitchison-Gill says the school had some wooden equipment, a flying fox and climbing frames, which had been declared unsafe by the ministry of education in 2016, “but it was nothing compared to what it has now”, she says. “It’s up to community standard and all ages can use it, although priority will be given to our younger students.”

Aitchison-Gill says local donations from individuals as well as Land Holdings, Youth with a Mission, Jubilee Christian College in Australia and The Saddler Foundation brought the final total to just under $76,000.

“It is still a work in progress but already looks so much fun.” She says if the board agrees the new playground will open on October 31.